Wireless power transmission apparatus and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A wireless power transmission device includes a laser light source configured to generate a first laser light for wireless charging and a guide beam for sensing at least one of an object and one or more receivers; a light outputting unit configured to output the first laser light and the guide beam; a light receiving unit configured to receive the guide beam; and a controller configured to control output of the first laser light through the guide beam received at the light receiving unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/311,976 filed on Dec. 20, 2018, which is theNational Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2017/007020filed on Jul. 3, 2017, which claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.§ 119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0086961 filed on Jul.8, 2016, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by referenceinto the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless power transmission deviceand a method therefor.

Discussion of the Related Art

Recently, as a wireless power transmission technique is applied towireless charging of a smartphone, the dissemination of the wirelesspower transmission technique is increasing. Study on the wireless powertransmission technique is in active progress not only in wirelesscharging for electric vehicles, but also in such an application field aspower supply for various wearable devices and IoT (Internet of Things)sensors.

The wireless power transmission technique corresponds to a techniquethat converts electric power into an electromagnetic wave form andforwards the energy without a wire on which electricity flows. In orderto transmit power wirelessly, the wireless power transmission techniqueconverts electric power into an electromagnetic wave corresponding to ahigh frequency electrical signal of a specific frequency or a light waveto forward energy.

The wireless power transmission technique is classified into a shortdistance wireless power transmission technique and a long distancewireless power transmission technique. The short distance wireless powertransmission technique includes a self-induction scheme for transmittingpower by creating an induced current in a nearby coil and a magneticresonance scheme for transmitting power by matching resonant frequenciesbetween a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The long distancewireless power transmission technique includes a microwave scheme fortransmitting power by converting power into a microwave and a laserscheme for transmitting power by converting power into a ray.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, the short distance wirelesspower transmission technique has matured as far as a first stage ofdevelopment or a stage of commercialization of wireless charging of asmartphone and a related standard is under discussion. On the otherhand, the study on the long distance wireless power transmissiontechnique is in progress for an unmanned aerial vehicle of a specialpurpose such as a military purpose only. The maturity of the longdistance wireless power transmission technique is less matured comparedto the short distance wireless power transmission technique.

In particular, it is difficult to say that the wireless powertransmission technique has entered a technologically completed stage.Since a related standard is not fully established or organized,commercialization has just started, and concern about harmfulness tohuman body compared to efficiency and convenience of wireless chargingis recently reported, various problems are brought up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus andmethod thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art. A wireless powertransmission apparatus and a method therefor are disclosed in thepresent invention.

One object of the present invention is to provide a wireless powertransmission apparatus and a method therefor.

Another object of the present invention is to transmit wireless powerusing a separated laser.

Another object of the present invention is to perform wireless chargingvia wireless power transmission using a separated laser and secure orincrease use safety via object detection.

The other object of the present invention is to provide a wireless powertransmission apparatus structure of various forms for performing theabovementioned technical tasks.

Technical tasks obtainable from the present invention are non-limited bythe above-mentioned technical task. And, other unmentioned technicaltasks can be clearly understood from the following description by thosehaving ordinary skill in the technical field to which the presentinvention pertains.

A wireless power transmission apparatus and a method therefor aredisclosed in the present specification.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, accordingto one embodiment, a wireless power transmission device includes a lasersource, a light outputting unit configured to output a laser lightgenerated in the laser source by dividing the laser light into a firstlaser light for performing wireless charging and a second laser lightfor detecting an object, a light receiving unit configured to receivethe second laser light, and a light controlling unit configured tocontrol an output of the first laser light via the second laser lightreceived at the light receiving unit. The light controlling unit candetermine whether or not an object is detected based on the second laserlight received at the light receiving unit.

Technical solutions obtainable from the present invention may benon-limited by the above mentioned solutions. And, other unmentionedsolutions can be clearly understood from the following description bythose having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the presentinvention pertains.

Advantageous Effects

Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects oradvantages.

According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, it isable to provide a wireless power transmission apparatus and a methodtherefor.

According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, it isable to transmit wireless power using a separated laser.

According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, it isable to perform wireless charging via wireless power transmission usinga separated laser and secure or increase use safety via objectdetection.

According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, it isable to provide a wireless power transmission apparatus structure ofvarious forms for generating the abovementioned advantageous effects.

Effects obtainable from the present invention may be non-limited by theabove mentioned effect. And, other unmentioned effects can be clearlyunderstood from the following description by those having ordinary skillin the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless powerreception device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are diagrams illustrating a different embodiment ofa wireless power reception device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a laser wireless charging methodaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an IR detect sensor according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining wireless charging when an object isdetected in a laser wireless charging process illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6(a) is a graph for explaining energy distribution of a laser lightand a FWHM region according to the present invention and FIG. 6(b) is adiagram for explaining a laser light and energy distribution;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a structure and a principle of anoptical fiber according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for a configuration of a laser wirelesscharging system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for a wireless power transmission device and awireless power reception device according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an emitting path of a laser lightemitted through a light output unit of a wireless power transmissiondevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a laser light emitted through across-section of a light output unit of a wireless power transmissiondevice according to the present invention;

FIGS. 12 to 14 are diagrams for explaining an internal structure of alight output unit of a wireless power transmission device according tothe present invention;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams for explaining a wireless charging scenariousing a wireless power transmission device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining a method of controlling power of alight in a wireless power transmission device according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining a method of controlling power of alight in a wireless power transmission device according to a differentembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a wirelesspower transmission device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 20 is a first flowchart illustrating a method of controlling awireless power transmission device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a second flowchart illustrating a method of controlling awireless power transmission device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 22 is a third flowchart illustrating a method of controlling awireless power transmission device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of detecting areceiver by a guide beam in a wireless power transmission deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating detection of a receiver by a guidebeam according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating positioning of a receiver according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating irradiation of a first laser light toa receiver in a wireless power transmission device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27 is a conceptual diagram illustrating positioning of a receiveraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28 is diagram illustrating error correction between a lightoutputting unit and a sensing unit according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating transmission of different power toindividual receivers according to residual power amounts of thereceivers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a light separation unit 804 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a prism and a galvanometer scanneraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating lenses according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplaryembodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to thedrawings, the same or equivalent components may be provided with thesame reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.

In general, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer toelements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intendedto facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself isnot intended to give any special meaning or function.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may beused herein to describe various elements, these elements should not belimited by these terms. These terms are generally only used todistinguish one element from another.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected with or to” another element, the element can be connectedwith the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Incontrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connectedwith” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless itrepresents a definitely different meaning from the context.

Terms such as “include” or “has” are used herein and should beunderstood that they are intended to indicate an existence of severalcomponents, functions or steps, disclosed in the specification, and itis also understood that greater or fewer components, functions, or stepsmay likewise be utilized.

In the present disclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinaryskill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake ofbrevity. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understandvarious technical features and it should be understood that theembodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanyingdrawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extendto any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to thosewhich are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

In the following, a wireless power transmission device according to thepresent invention and a method therefor are explained in detail withreference to the attached drawings.

In the aspect of a distance, a wireless power transmission technique isclassified into a short distance wireless power transmission techniqueincluding a self-induction scheme and a magnetic resonance scheme and along distance wireless power transmission technique including amicrowave scheme and a laser scheme. In the aspect of a contact, thewireless power transmission technique is classified into a contact typewireless power transmission technique and a non-contact type wirelesspower transmission technique. However, in order to help easilyunderstand and describe the present invention, the long distancewireless power transmission technique and/or the non-contact typewireless power transmission technique are mainly explained in thepresent specification. In this case, although a range covered by thelong distance wireless power transmission technique is wholly or partlyoverlapped with a range covered by the non-contact type wireless powertransmission technique, it may not mean that the techniques are the sametechnique. Meanwhile, the present invention is not restricted to thelong distance wireless power transmission technique and/or thenon-contact type wireless power transmission technique. The presentinvention can also be applied to the short distance wireless powertransmission technique and/or the contact type wireless powertransmission technique. However, for clarity, a wireless powertransmission technique is explained in a manner of being referred to as“non-contact type wireless power transmission technique” in the presentspecification, by which the present invention may be non-limited.

Meanwhile, for clarity, the non-contact type wireless power transmissiontechnique according to the present invention is explained with a laserscheme as one embodiment irrespective of a distance, by which thepresent invention may be non-limited. The laser scheme uses laser as alight source. However, a light source according to the present inventionis not restricted to laser. All light sources including an LED (LightEmitting Diode) capable of generating light (photon) using electricity,an electric light, and the like can be replaced with the laser.

Meanwhile, when laser is used as a light source, since a UV(ultra-violet) ray region is considerably absorbed in the air and avisible ray region has a visual reason, a near infrared ray region or aninfrared (IR) region is mainly used.

In other word, in the present specification, wireless power transmissionusing a laser light is described. In this case, in relation to thewireless power transmission, a method of separating the laser light, amethod of using a part of the separated laser light for wireless powertransmission, and a method of using the remaining laser light fordetecting an object are explained in the present specification inconsideration of such a safety problem as recently spotlightedharmfulness to human body, and the like. When an object is detected, amethod of processing a laser light, various forms or structures of awireless power transmission device for detecting the object, and thelike are explained in the present specification.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, a wireless power transmissiondevice is mainly explained in the present specification for clarity.Meanwhile, a wireless power reception device corresponding to thewireless power transmission device can include all electronic devicesnecessary to be charged for an operation of the devices such as a TV, ahome appliance, a smartphone, a mobile terminal such as a wearabledevice, a lighting device, an electric vehicle, a razor, a solargenerator, and the like. For clarity, the wireless power receptiondevice is explained within a necessary range only in the presentspecification and detail explanation on the wireless power receptiondevice is omitted.

In the following, as an example of the wireless power reception device,FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of configuring a TV and anembodiment of configuring a mobile terminal, respectively. In thefollowing, the TV and the mobile terminal are briefly explained.However, as mentioned in the foregoing description, the wireless powerreception device is not restricted to the TV shown in FIG. 1 and themobile terminal shown in FIG. 2.

The TV, for example, corresponds to a device that performs at least oneselected from the group consisting of transmitting/receiving data,processing data, and outputting data. In this case, the data includescontents, services, and all data related to an application. The TV cantransmit/receive the data in a manner of being connected with adifferent device, an external server, and the like through awired/wireless network. If necessary, the data can be converted beforebeing transmitted or received. For example, the TV can include a networkTV, a HBBTV, a smart TV, an IPTV, and the like. For clarity, the TVdescribed in the present specification may correspond to a configurationequipped with a display panel only or a set configuration such as an STB(Set-Top Box).

Referring to FIG. 1, as an embodiment of a wireless power receptiondevice, a TV 100 can be configured by including a network interface 101,a TCP/IP manager 102, a service delivery manager 103, an SI decoder 104,a demux or demultiplexer 105, an audio decoder 106, a video decoder 107,a display unit 108, a service control manager 109, a service discoverymanager 110, an SI & metadata DB 111, a metadata manager 112, a servicemanager 113, a UI manager 114, and the like.

The network interface 101 transmits and receives IP packet(s) (InternetProtocol (IP) packets(s)) or IP datagram(s) (hereinafter, IP packet(s))via a network accessed by the network interface. The IP packet(s)includes data on services, applications, contents, and the like.Meanwhile, the network interface 101 may correspond to a tuner receivinga broadcast signal received on RF (Radio Frequency) or a configurationelement including the tuner.

The TCP/IP manager 102 involves in packet delivery between IP packetsreceived by the TV 100 and IP packets transmitted by the TV 100, i.e.,between a source and a destination. The TCP/IP manager 102 classifiesreceived packets to make the packets correspond to an appropriateprotocol and outputs the classified packet(s) to the service deliverymanager 105, the service discovery manager 110, the service controlmanager 109, the metadata manager 112, and the like.

The service delivery manager 103 is in charge of controlling a receivedservice data. For example, when the service delivery manager controlsreal-time streaming data, the service delivery manager 103 can useRTP/RTCP. When the real-time streaming data is transmitted using theRTP, the service delivery manager 103 parses the received data packetaccording to the RTP and transmits the parsed data packet to thedemultiplexer 105. Or, the service delivery manager 103 stores theparsed data packet in the SI & metadata DB 111 according to the controlof the service manager 113. Subsequently, the service delivery manager103 feedbacks the information received from the network to a serverproviding a service.

The demultiplexer 105 demultiplexes received packets into audio, video,SI (System or Service Information) data and transmits the demultiplexedSI data to the audio/video decoder 106/107, and the SI decoder 104.

The SI decoder 104 decodes the multiplexed SI data (e.g., serviceinformation such as PSI, PSIP, DVB-SI, DTMB/CMMB, etc.). The SI decoder104 can store the decoded service information in the SI & metadata DB111. For example, the stored service information can be used in a mannerof being retrieved by a corresponding configuration in accordance with arequest of a user.

The audio/video decoder 106/107 decodes demultiplexed audio data andvideo data, respectively. The decoded audio data and the video data areprovided to a user through the display unit 108.

For example, the application manager includes the service manager 113and the UI manager 114 and can perform a controller function of the TV100. In other word, the application manager manages overall status ofthe TV 100, provides a UI (User Interface), and can manage a differentmanager.

The UI manager 114 provides a user with a GUI (Graphic UserInterface)/UI using OSD (On Screen Display), receives a key input fromthe user, and performs a device operation according to the input. Forexample, when the UI manager 114 receives a key input for selecting achannel from the user, the UI manager 114 transmits the key input signalto the service manager 113.

The service manager 113 controls managers associated with a service suchas the service delivery manager 103, the service discovery manager 110,the service control manager 109, the metadata manager 112, and the like.

The service manager 113 generates a channel map/service map and controlsa channel/service to be selected using the generated channel map inaccordance with a key input received from the UI manager 114. Theservice manager 113 receives service information from the SI decoder 104and sets an audio/video PID (Packet Identifier) of a selected channel tothe demultiplexer 105. The PID can be used for the aforementioneddemultiplexing procedure. In particular, the demultiplexer 105 canperform filtering (PID or section filtering) on audio data, video data,and SI data using the PID.

The service discovery manager 110 provides information necessary forselecting a service provider that provides a service. When a signal forselecting a channel/service is received from the service manager 113,the service discovery manager 110 discovers a service using theinformation.

The service control manager 109 is in charge of selecting andcontrolling a service. For example, when a user selects a livebroadcasting service such as a legacy broadcasting scheme, the servicecontrol manager 109 uses IGMP or RTSP to select and control a service.On the other hand, when the user selects a service such as VOD (Video OnDemand), the service control manager 109 uses RTSP to select and controla service. The RTSP protocol can provide a trick mode to real-timestreaming. The service control manager 109 can initialize and manage asession passing through an IMS gateway 150 using IMS SIP. The protocolsare just an embodiment only. It may be able to use a different protocoldepending on an implementation example.

The metadata manager 112 manages metadata associated with a service andstores the metadata in the SI & metadata DB 111.

The SI & metadata DB 111 stores service information decoded by the SIdecoder 104, metadata managed by the metadata manager 112, andinformation necessary for selecting a service provider provided by theservice discovery manager 110. The SI & metadata DB 111 can storeconfiguration data for a system and the like. The SI & metadata DB 111can be implemented using a Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM) or a flash memory.

The IMS gateway 150 corresponds to a gateway including functionsnecessary for accessing an IMS-based IPTV service.

Besides, the power supply unit 160 supplies power to the aforementionedTV configuration elements. The power supply unit 160 includes a wireinterface necessary for supplying power to the TV. In order to receivewireless power transmitted from a wireless power transmission deviceaccording to the present invention, the power supply unit 160 includes awireless power reception interface (not depicted) as well. The wirelesspower reception interface is implemented in a front side or a rear sideof the TV or can be implemented in a separate device at the outside ofthe TV. The wireless power reception interface can be implemented in aform of providing power to the TV through a wired/wireless connector.

Referring to FIG. 2, as a different embodiment of a wireless powerreception device, a mobile terminal 200 is described.

A mobile terminal is evolving from a form of a smartphone performing afunction of producing and consuming contents in addition to acommunication function to a form of performing various functions byinterworking with various things. As an example of the mobile terminal,a device capable of being worn on a user, i.e., wearable device, canalso be included in the mobile terminal. Devices such as smart watch, asmart glass, a HMD (head mounted display), EMD, and VR and productscapable of being worn on a user such as clothes, shoes, and the like canbe included in the wearable device.

Referring to FIGS. 2a to 2c , FIG. 2a is a block diagram for explaininga mobile terminal according to the present invention and FIGS. 2b and 2care conceptual diagrams for an example of a mobile terminal according tothe present invention seen from a different view.

The mobile terminal 200 is shown having components such as a wirelesscommunication unit 210, an input unit 220, a sensing unit 240, an outputunit 250, an interface unit 260, a memory 270, a controller 280, and apower supply unit 290. It is understood that implementing all of thecomponents shown in FIG. 2a is not a requirement, and that greater orfewer components may alternatively be implemented.

The wireless communication unit 210 typically includes one or moremodules which permit communications such as wireless communicationsbetween the mobile terminal 200 and a wireless communication system,communications between the mobile terminal 200 and another mobileterminal, communications between the mobile terminal 200 and an externalserver. Further, the wireless communication unit 210 typically includesone or more modules which connect the mobile terminal 200 to one or morenetworks.

To facilitate such communications, the wireless communication unit 210includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a broadcastreceiving module 211, a mobile communication module 212, a wirelessInternet module 213, a short-range communication module 214, and alocation information module 215.

The input unit 120 includes a camera 221 or an image input unit forinputting an image signal, a microphone 222 or an audio input unit forinputting an audio signal, and a user input unit 223 (for example, atouch key, a push key, and the like) for allowing a user to inputinformation. Audio data or image data obtained by the input unit 220 isanalyzed and can be processed by a control command of a user.

The sensing unit 240 is typically implemented using one or more sensorsconfigured to sense at least one selected from the group consisting ofinternal information of the mobile terminal, the surrounding environmentinformation of the mobile terminal, and user information. For example,the sensing unit 240 can include at least one selected from the groupconsisting of a proximity sensor 241, an illumination sensor 242, atouch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a G-sensor, agyroscope sensor, a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an infrared (IR)sensor, a finger scan sensor, a ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor(for example, camera 221), a microphone 122, a battery gauge, anenvironment sensor (for example, a barometer, a hygrometer, athermometer, a radiation detection sensor, a thermal detection sensor,and a gas detection sensor), and a chemical sensor (for example, anelectronic nose, a health care sensor, a biometric sensor, and thelike). The mobile terminal 100 can be configured to utilize informationobtained from two or more sensors by combining the information.

The output unit 250 is typically configured to output various types ofinformation, such as audio, video, tactile output, and the like. Theoutput unit 250 can include at least one selected from the groupconsisting of a display unit 251, an audio output module 252, a hapticmodule 253, and an optical output module 254. The display unit 251 mayhave an inter-layered structure or an integrated structure with a touchsensor to form a touch screen. The touch screen may provide an outputinterface between the mobile terminal 200 and a user, as well asfunction as the user input unit 223 which provides an input interfacebetween the mobile terminal 200 and the user.

The interface unit 260 serves as an interface with various types ofexternal devices that can be coupled with the mobile terminal 200. Theinterface unit 260 can include at least one selected from the groupconsisting of wired or wireless headset ports, external power supplyports, wired or wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports forconnecting a device equipped with an identification module, audioinput/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, and earphone ports. In somecases, the mobile terminal 200 may perform assorted control functionsassociated with a connected external device, in response to the externaldevice being connected to the interface unit 260.

The memory 270 is typically implemented to store data to support variousfunctions of the mobile terminal 200. For instance, the memory 270 canbe configured to store application programs executed in the mobileterminal 200, data or instructions for operations of the mobile terminal200, and the like. Some of these application programs may be downloadedfrom an external server via wireless communication. Other applicationprograms may be installed in the mobile terminal 200 at time ofmanufacturing the mobile terminal 200 for a basic function (for example,receiving a call, placing a call, receiving a message, sending amessage, and the like). It is common for application programs to bestored in the memory 270, installed in the mobile terminal 200, andexecuted by the controller 280 to perform an operation (or function) ofthe mobile terminal 200.

The controller 280 controls overall operation of the mobile terminal200, in addition to the operations associated with the applicationprograms. The controller 280 processes a signal, data, information andthe like inputted or outputted via the aforementioned configurationelements or executes an application program stored in the memory 270 toprovide or process information or functions appropriate for a user.

In order to execute the applications programs stored in the memory 270,the controller 280 can control at least a part of the configurationselements mentioned earlier in FIG. 2a . Moreover, in order to executethe application programs, the controller 280 can operate at least two ormore configuration elements included in the mobile terminal 200 bycombining the configuration elements.

The power supply unit 290 receives external power or internal powerunder the control of the controller 280 to supply power to each of theconfiguration elements included in the mobile terminal 200. The powersupply unit 290 may include a battery, and the battery may be configuredto be embedded in the terminal body, or configured to be detachable fromthe terminal body. Meanwhile, similar to the aforementioned power supplyunit 160 of the TV, the power supply unit 290 of the mobile terminalalso includes a wireless power reception interface (not depicted)necessary for receiving wireless power transmitted from the wirelesspower transmission device according to the present invention. Thewireless power reception interface is implemented in a front side or arear side of the mobile terminal or can be implemented in a separatedevice (e.g., charger) at the outside of the mobile terminal. Thewireless power reception interface can be implemented in a form ofproviding power to the mobile terminal through a wired/wirelessconnector.

In the following, a wireless power transmission device and a methodtherefor are explained in more detail with reference to the attacheddrawings.

The present invention intends to increase use safety by detecting anobject (e.g., user) using a guide beam of a laser light corresponding toa medium of power transmission by separating a laser light to performlaser wireless charging. For example, the infrared laser light uses aregion of a wavelength not detected by an eye of a human and theinfrared region corresponds to a wavelength used as a sensor forrecognizing a human. A light of a FWHM (Full Width at Half-Maximum)region of a laser light occupies the majority of energy and a light of alow density region other than the FWHM region has little energy. Hence,the light of the low density region is used as a light emitting unit ofa sensor configured to recognize an object.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, an IR sensor can detect auser and control an amount of charging without a separate IR emitter,thereby increasing safety. And, it is able to prevent energy chargingefficiency from being degraded due to such an object as a foreignsubstance, an obstacle, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a laser wireless charging methodaccording to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explainingan IR detect sensor according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is adiagram for explaining wireless charging when an object is detected in alaser wireless charging process illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, wireless charging using laser is a wirelesscharging scheme of a medium long range type that mainly uses an infraredlaser as an energy source (Tx) 310 and uses a PV cell (PhotovoltaicCell, an element using the photoelectric effect, a solar battery) as anenergy reception unit (RX) 320.

Since the wireless charging using laser illustrated in FIG. 3 uses aninfrared region, a light is not detected by a naked eye. However,infrared energy (a part of an electromagnetic wave) is actually flowing.This type of wireless charging may transmit energy as high as several W,scores of W, or higher depending on a target product.

Referring to FIG. 4, a currently used general infrared sensor isillustrated. The infrared sensor consists of a light emitting unit 410and a light collecting unit 420. An infrared light emitted from thelight emitting unit 410 is reflected on a specific object 430 and isdetected in the light collecting unit 420. In general, the infraredsensor measures a detection/distance of an object. A light emittingsensor (IR Emitter) used for the infrared sensor mainly uses a light oflow power.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the energy source (Tx) 310/510 using laseremits a laser light to the energy reception unit (Rx) 320/520, if thereis an object 520, the laser light for wireless charging is nottransferred to the energy reception unit (Rx) 320/520 due to the object520.

When wireless charging is performed using laser, a medium of energytransfer is a light of an infrared ray.

Although the light of the infrared ray is not detected by a naked eye,the light of the infrared ray is an electromagnetic (EM) wave identicalto a light.

The medium of energy transfers energy from the energy Tx to the energyRx. If an obstacle or a foreign substance exists between the energy Txand the energy Rx, since energy transfer is not properly performed, acharging scheme may have a problem. Moreover, if a human body isdirectly exposed to an infrared laser, it may have some risk. Hence, thepresent invention intends to solve the problem above and a safety issue.

Although a part of infrared laser is used for skin care by controllingthe output of the infrared laser, the infrared laser uses a very lowlevel of energy. Since the technique described in the presentspecification aims to transfer energy, much higher energy is used.Hence, if a human body is directly exposed to the laser, risk may exist.

In general, an electromagnetic wave of an infrared wavelength penetratesmost objects. However, while the electromagnetic wave penetrates anobject, energy is reduced. In particular, the electromagnetic wave isunable to penetrate metals and the most of the electromagnetic wave isreflected as it is.

FIG. 6(a) is a graph for explaining energy distribution of a laser lightand a FWHM region according to the present invention and FIG. 6(b) is adiagram for explaining a laser light and energy distribution.

In order to solve the aforementioned problem and a use safety issue, thepresent invention proposes a method of separating an infrared laserlight corresponding to the energy Tx into 2 lights using an additionaloptical fiber.

One is a main IR light for energy transfer, i.e., a light of highdensity energy for laser wireless charging, and another one is an IRlight for detecting an object, i.e., a light of low density energy as alight emitting element used for an infrared detection sensor.

A basic laser light has a Gaussian energy distribution form illustratedin a graph of FIG. 6(a). M2 is an indicator indicating a level ofcloseness of an energy distribution of a laser light with the Gaussianenergy distribution. As the M2 is getting close to 1, it may have ashape of the Gaussian distribution. For clarity, FIG. 6(a) is explainedunder the assumption that the Gaussian distribution M2 corresponds to 1.

The center of the laser has the highest energy and the energy tends tobe reduced as getting away from the center. In this case, a region wherethe maximum energy is reduced by half is referred to as a FWHM region.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a structure and a principle of anoptical fiber according to the present invention.

The present invention uses a structure of a legacy optical fiber bytransforming the structure. For example, a general optical fiberconsists of a core and cladding.

Assume that a refractive index of the core corresponds to n and arefractive index of the cladding corresponds to n′. In this case, whenthe n is less than the n′, total reflection occurs and a light istrapped into the core. The optical fiber uses the phenomenon above. Inother word, the optical fiber uses a phenomenon that a light launchedinto the core is unable to penetrate the cladding having a refractiveindex higher than a refractive index of the core and the light isdelivered along the core.

The present invention uses a scheme different from a legacy opticalfiber.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for a configuration of a laser wirelesscharging system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The wireless power transmission device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention includes a laser light source, a light outputtingunit configured to output a laser light generated by the laser lightsource unit by dividing the laser light into a first laser light forperforming wireless charging and a second laser light for detecting anobject, a light receiving unit configured to receive the second laserlight, and a light controlling unit configured to control the output ofthe first laser light through the second laser light received by thelight receiving unit. The light controlling unit can determine whetheror not an object is detected based on the second laser light received bythe light receiving unit.

Referring to FIG. 8, according to one embodiment, a wireless powertransmission unit can include a laser light source 802, a lightcontrolling unit 806, a light receiving unit, and a light outputtingunit 820. At least one of a light separation unit 804 and a light outputcontrolling unit 812 illustrated in FIG. 8 can be replaced with thelight controlling unit 806 or can be implemented by an internal moduleof the light controlling unit 806. In other word, the light controllingunit 806 can perform at least one of functions of the light separationunit 804 and the light output controlling unit 812 instead of the lightseparation unit 804 and the light output controlling unit 812.

The laser light source 802 generates an infrared laser light accordingto the present invention. The generated laser light is delivered to alight receiving unit of a wireless power reception device via the lightoutputting unit 820. In this case, the laser light can be controlled bythe light controlling unit 806.

The light receiving unit corresponds to a configuration elementconfigured to receive a laser light emitted to the external via thelight outputting unit 820. The light receiving unit receives the emittedlaser light via a photodiode 808.

The light controlling unit 806 determines whether or not an object isdetected via the laser light received by the photodiode 808 of the lightreceiving unit. The determination on whether or not the object isdetected can also be performed by an object detection unit 810illustrated in FIG. 8. In other word, the object detection unit 810 ofFIG. 8 may correspond to a separate configuration and the lightcontrolling unit 806 can perform a function of the object detection unitinstead of the object detection unit 810.

The light controlling unit 806 controls the output of a laser lightemitted to the external via the first light outputting unit 822 and thesecond light outputting unit 824 of the light outputting unit 820 basedon whether or not an object is detected. Regarding this, it shall beexplained later in more detail.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for a wireless power transmission device and awireless power reception device according to the present invention andFIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an emitting path of a laser lightemitted through a light output unit of a wireless power transmissiondevice according to the present invention.

The wireless power transmission device illustrated in FIG. 9 correspondsto a model implemented by including the configuration elements of thewireless power transmission device illustrated in FIG. 8. Meanwhile, thewireless power transmission device illustrated in FIG. 9 is illustratedby a cross-sectional diagram to more easily explain the flow of a laserlight.

And, for clarity, a wireless power reception device illustrated in FIG.9 is illustrated with an example of a PV cell.

In the following, the wireless power transmission device of FIG. 9 isexplained in more detail with reference to the configuration elements ofthe wireless power transmission device illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, the wireless power transmission device can beclassified into a light processing unit 910 and a light outputting unit920. In this case, the light processing unit 910 corresponds to aconfiguration including the laser light source 802, the lightcontrolling unit 806, and the light receiving unit among theconfiguration elements of FIG. 8. The light outputting unit 920corresponds to a configuration including the light outputting unit 820of FIG. 8.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, the light outputting unit 920outputs a laser light generated by the laser light source 802 byseparating the laser light into a first laser light for performingwireless charging and a second laser light for detecting an object.

Referring to FIG. 9, to this end, the light outputting unit 920 includesa first light outputting unit for outputting the first laser light 942and a second light outputting unit for outputting the second laser light944. In this case, the first light outputting unit and the second lightoutputting unit can be configured by an optical fiber or by includingthe optical fiber.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 9, the light outputting unit can beclassified into an input end 932 configured to deliver a laser lightgenerated by the light processing unit 910 to the light outputting unit920 and an output end 934 configured to emit the laser light to theexternal via the input end 932. In other word, the light outputting unitis classified into the input end 932 configured to receive a laser lightgenerated by the laser light source and the output end 934 configured toemit the laser light received via the input end 932 to the external.

A length of the light outputting unit 920, i.e., a length between theinput end 932 and the output end 934, can be determined based on alength predetermined at the time of manufacturing the wireless powertransmission device. Or, the length can be randomly changed according tovarious elements such as a distance from a wireless power receptiondevice at the time of installing the wireless power transmission device,environment of a location at which the wireless power transmissiondevice is located, user configuration, and the like. Meanwhile, thelength can be fixed or can be randomly changed.

Referring to FIG. 9, a size of a cross-section area of an input end maydiffer from a size of a cross-section area of an output end in the crosssection of the light outputting unit. Or, the size of the cross-sectionarea of the output end may be greater than the size of the cross-sectionarea of the input end, vice versa. Meanwhile, a difference between thesize of the cross-section area of the input end and the size of thecross-section area of the output end may have influence on thedetermination of a shape of the light outputting unit. For example, theoutput end of the light outputting unit may have a prescribed shape tomake an angle of the first laser light 942 for performing wirelesscharging emitted via the first light outputting unit to be differentfrom an angle of the second laser light 944 for detecting an objectemitted via the second light outputting unit.

For example, the prescribed shape may have a curve shape to make theemitting angles to be different from each other.

For example, an angle of a second laser light 944 emitted to theexternal can be configured to have an angle less than 90 degrees on thebasis of an angle of a first laser light 942 emitted via the first lightoutputting unit.

When a wireless power transmission device has a cross-sectionalstructure illustrated in FIG. 9 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, the first laser light 942 for a FWHM region istransmitted to a wireless power reception device 950 such as a PV cellvia the first light outputting unit to perform wireless charging and alaser light is emitted with an angle different from an angle of thefirst laser light 942 via the second light outputting unit to detect anobject between the wireless power transmission device and the wirelesspower reception device, in particular, an object near an emitting pathof the first laser light 942. This can be easily understood withreference to emitting angles and emitting paths of the first laser light942 emitted via the first light outputting unit and the second laserlight 944 emitted via the second light outputting unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a laser light emitted through across-section of a light output unit of a wireless power transmissiondevice according to the present invention.

FIG. 11(a) illustrates laser lights for the whole of light outputtingunits, FIG. 11(b) illustrates the first laser light emitted via thefirst light outputting unit, and FIG. 11(c) illustrates the second laserlight emitted via the second light outputting unit. The sum of the firstlaser light emitted via the first light outputting unit and the secondlaser light emitted via the second light outputting unit is identical tothe laser lights illustrated in FIG. 11(a).

FIGS. 12 to 14 are diagrams for explaining an internal structure of alight output unit of a wireless power transmission device according tothe present invention.

In the following, for clarity, an internal structure and an externalstructure of a light outputting unit are described only in FIGS. 12 to14.

According to the present invention, a light outputting unit isconfigured by an optical fiber. In this case, the light outputting unitcan be configured by either a single optical fiber or multiple opticalfibers.

FIG. 12 illustrates a case that the light outputting unit is configuredby the single optical fiber.

FIG. 12(a) is a longitudinal section diagram for a light outputting unitof a wireless power transmission device according to the presentinvention. The bottom part corresponds to an input end 1210 of the lightoutputting unit connected with a light processing unit and the upperpart corresponds to an output end 1220 of the light outputting unit thatemits a laser light to the external.

Referring to the longitudinal section diagram of the light outputtingunit of the wireless power transmission device, an internal partcorresponds to the first light outputting unit that emits the firstlaser light for performing wireless charging and an external partcorresponds to the second light outputting unit that emits the secondlaser light for detecting an object.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, referring to the longitudinalsection diagram of FIG. 12(a), it is able to see that diameters (d1 andd2) are different from each other when cross-section areas of the inputend 1210 and the output end 1220 or the light outputting unit has acircular form. As mentioned in the foregoing description, thecross-section area or the diameter d2 of the output end 1220 may begreater than the cross-section area or the diameter d1 of the input end1210.

FIG. 12(b) is a cross-sectional diagram for an output end of a lightoutputting unit, in particular, the second light outputting unit. A core1232 emitting the first laser light is wrapped up by claddings 1234,1236 to make the first laser light to be fully reflected without beingdeviated from the core 1232.

FIG. 12(c) is a cross-sectional diagram for an input end of a lightoutputting unit and illustrates a case that the light outputting unithas a circular form. The circular form has a structure including thefirst core 1252 emitting the first laser light, the first cladding 1254wrapping up the first core 1252 to make the first laser light emitted inthe first core to be fully reflected, the second core 1256 emitting thesecond laser light, and the second cladding 1258 wrapping up the secondcore 1256 to make the second laser light emitted in the second core 1256to be fully reflected.

FIGS. 12(b) and 12(c) can be more easily understood with reference toFIGS. 7(a) and 7(b).

In particular, assume that a refractive index of the first core 1252 anda refractive index of the second core 1256 correspond to n1 and n3,respectively.

In this case, a refractive index (n2) of the first cladding 1254 isgreater than the n1 and the n3. By doing so, the first laser light andthe second laser light can be emitted while being fully reflected viathe first core 1252 and the second core 1256, respectively. Meanwhile,it is necessary for a refractive index (n4) of the second cladding 1258to be greater than the refractive index (n2) of the second core 1256. Inthe description above, the refractive index (n2) of the first cladding1254 and the refractive index (n4) of the second cladding 1258 can bethe same or different. However, as mentioned in the foregoingdescription, in order to make a laser light to be fully reflected in acorresponding core, a refractive index of a cladding should be greaterthan a refractive index of the core.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a case that a light outputting unit isconfigured by multiple optical fibers. In particular, FIG. 14illustrates a case that the light outputting unit is configured by acombination of a single optical fiber and multiple optical fibers.

First of all, FIG. 13(a) is a cross-sectional diagram for an output endof a light outputting unit. Unlike FIG. 12, it is able to see thatmultiple optical fibers are included in a cross section of the outputend. In this case, the outskirts 1312 of a cross-sectional structure inwhich the multiple optical fibers are included may correspond to acladding or not. The outskirts configuration element may play a role offixing the multiple optical fibers included in the output end.

Referring to the cross section of the output end illustrated in FIG.13(a), the cross section is tightly filled with multiple optical fibers.However, this is just one embodiment only. In particular, the output endcan be implemented by the less number of optical fibers (e.g., at leasttwo or more optical fibers).

FIG. 13(b) is a cross-sectional diagram for an input end of the lightoutputting unit. The input end of the light outputting unit consists ofthe first core 1322, the first cladding 1324, the second core 1326, andthe second cladding 1328. In this case, unlike FIG. 12(c), FIG. 13(b)illustrates a case that the second core 1326 is implemented by multipleoptical fibers instead of a single optical fiber.

An internal structure of the multiple optical fibers illustrated inFIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) is shown in FIG. 13(c). In particular, theinternal structure is implemented by a core 1332 and a cladding 1334.Hence, it is not mandatory for the outskirts (e.g., cladding), the firstcladding 1324, and the second cladding 1328 illustrated in FIGS. 13(a)and 13(b) to have the refractive index mentioned earlier in FIG. 12.However, in case of the first cladding 1324 shown in FIG. 13(b), if thefirst core 1322 has a single optical fiber structure, it is necessary toconsider a refractive index of the first core 1322 to make the firstlaser light emitted through the first core 1322 to be fully reflected.

FIGS. 14(a), 14(b), and 14(c) are cross-sectional diagrams for an outputend of an outputting unit according to the present invention. FIGS.14(a), 14(b), and 14(c) illustrate cross-sectional structures differentfrom the cross-sectional structures shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

Meanwhile, FIGS. 14(d), 14(e), and 14(f) are cross-sectional diagramsfor an input end of an outputting unit according to the presentinvention. FIGS. 14(d), 14(e), and 14(f) illustrate cross-sectionalstructures different from the cross-sectional structures shown in FIGS.12 and 13.

Although it is not depicted, if necessary, the first core emitting thefirst laser light for performing wireless charging can also beimplemented by multiple optical fibers instead of a single opticalfiber.

According to the present invention, at least one of the first lightoutputting unit and the second light outputting unit of the lightoutputting unit can be implemented by a member of flexible material. Inparticular, the second light outputting unit can be implemented using aflexible material. Or, at least one of the input end and the output endof the light outputting unit can be implemented using a member forchanging an emitting direction or an emitting angle of the first laserlight/second laser light emitted through the output end. Or, it mayfurther include a separate member for the at least one of the input endand the output end of the light outputting unit.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams for explaining a wireless charging scenariousing a wireless power transmission device according to the presentinvention.

In the following, when a wireless charging service is performed using awireless power transmission device, a method of detecting an objectusing a laser light for detecting an object and a method of controllingan output of the laser light according to the detected object areexplained in detail.

Referring to FIG. 15, a wireless power transmission device 1510 emits alaser light to a wireless power reception device 1520 to performwireless charging. In this case, for example, the wireless powerreception device 1520 may correspond to a TV. A wireless power receptionunit 1522 can be implemented on the front side of the TV. In this case,it is not mandatory that the wireless power reception unit 1522 isimplemented on the wireless power reception device 1520. The wirelesspower reception unit 1522 can be implemented on a separate configurationand wireless charging can be performed by establishing a connectionbetween the wireless power transmission device and the separateconfiguration. And, it is not mandatory that the wireless powerreception unit 1522 is implemented on the front side of the wirelesspower reception device 1520. The wireless power reception unit 1522 canalso be implemented on the rear side or a side of the wireless powerreception device 1520.

Referring to FIG. 15, the wireless power transmission device 1510 emitsthe first laser light for performing wireless charging to the wirelesspower reception unit 1522 of the wireless power reception device toperform the wireless charging and the second laser light for detectingan object is emitted to a certain space between the two devices.

In this case, for example, when the wireless power reception unit 1522receives the second laser light, the wireless power reception unit 1522absorbs the second laser light to perform wireless charging. Or,although the wireless power reception unit 1522 absorbs the second laserlight, the wireless power reception unit 1522 may ignore the secondlaser light in consideration of efficiency.

In FIG. 15, assume a scene that an object (e.g., a person) 1530 isapproaching to the wireless power transmission device 1510 and thewireless power reception device 1520. In this case, a light controllingunit of the wireless power transmission device 1510 detects the object1530 via the emitted second laser light and can control the output ofthe first laser light in consideration of the detected object 1530.

For example, when the object is detected based on the second laserlight, the light controlling unit of the wireless power transmissiondevice may not emit the first laser light by turning off the output ofthe first laser light until the object is not detected anymore. Or, thelight controlling unit of the wireless power transmission device maycontrol the output power of the first laser light to make an impact onan object (e.g., human body, etc.) to be minimized by lowering theoutput power of the first laser light of FWHM region to output power ofa region other than the FWHM region.

Or, as shown in FIG. 16, it may use a separate configuration 1610capable of changing an emitting angle of a laser light between awireless power transmission device and a wireless power receptiondevice. When the configuration 1610 capable of changing the emittingangle of the inputted laser light is referred to as a reflection board,the reflection board reflects the inputted laser light and forwards thereflected laser light to the wireless power reception device. Thereflection board 1610 makes the efficiency of the laser light not to bereduced in consideration of a reflection coefficient of a surface towhich the laser light is inputted. If necessary, it may be able to forma structure capable of randomly changing an angle of incidence and anangle of reflection.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 12, such a light receiving unit as aphotodiode mounted on the wireless power transmission device isimplemented on a light processing unit, by which the present inventionmay be non-limited. For example, the light receiving unit can beimplemented on a light outputting unit. And, not a single lightreceiving unit but multiple light receiving units can be implemented onthe light processing unit or the light outputting unit. And, one or morelight receiving units can be implemented on both the light processingunit and the light outputting unit. The light receiving unit mounted onthe wireless power transmission device may have a structure or a shapecapable of randomly changing a position of the light receiving unitwithout being fixed. For example, when the wireless power transmissiondevice is installed, the light receiving unit may fail to perform afunction of the light receiving unit due to a structural problem such asa location in which the wireless power transmission device is installed,environment, and the like. In this case, if multiple light receivingunits are installed or a location or arrangement of the light receivingunit is changeable, the light receiving unit may properly perform thefunction of the light receiving unit. Besides, the light receiving unitcan be replaced with a separate configuration instead of being installedon the wireless power transmission device.

In the foregoing description, a method of detecting an object using thesecond laser light reflected and returned to a light receiving unit suchas a photodiode and a method of controlling the power of the first laserlight have been described. On the other hand, although it is notdepicted, it is able to identify a type of an object with reference todata obtained by an image sensor installed in the wireless powertransmission device, the wireless reception device, or a cameraconnected with the wireless power transmission device or the wirelessreception device. And, the light controlling unit can control the powerof the first laser light in accordance with the type of the identifiedobject. For example, when the data obtained by the image sensor or thelike is considered, if the identified object is a living thing such as ahuman capable of being damaged by the laser light, it may control thepower of the laser light. On the other hand, if the identified object isa nonliving thing, it may ignore the detected object.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining a method of controlling power of alight in a wireless power transmission device according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

When a laser light is generated in a laser light source, a wirelesspower transmission device divides the laser light into the first laserlight for performing wireless charging and the second laser light fordetecting an object and emits the first laser light and the second laserlight to a wireless power reception device [S1702].

A light controlling unit of the wireless power transmission devicechecks whether or not the second laser light is reflected and receivedvia a light receiving unit. If the reflected light is inputted, thelight receiving unit reports the light to the light controlling unit.The light controlling unit determines whether or not an object isdetected based on the report of the light receiving unit [S1704].

If it is determined that the object is detected based on the result ofthe step S1704, the light controlling unit controls or maintains theoutput of the first laser light [S1706/S1708].

When wireless charging is completed, the light controlling unit turnsoff the output of the first laser light [S1710]. Whether or not thewireless charging is completed can be determined based on the feedbackof the wireless power reception device, predetermined wireless powercharging reservation time, and the like.

The steps S1704 to the S1706 are explained in more detail in thefollowing with reference to FIG. 18.

When an object is detected via the step S1704, the light controllingunit determines whether the object corresponds to a fixed object or amoving object [S1802].

If it is determined that the detected object corresponds to a fixedobject based on the result of the step S1802, the light controlling unitmaintains the output of the first laser light as it is [S1708]. In thiscase, similar to the step S1808 described later, the light controllingunit may refer to information on whether or not the fixed object isoverlapped with an emitting path of the first laser light.

If it is determined that the detected object corresponds to a movingobject based on the result of the step S1802, the light controlling unitdetermines whether the moving object corresponds to a living thing or anonliving thing [S1804].

If it is determined that the detected moving object corresponds to anonliving thing based on the result of the step S1804, the lightcontrolling unit maintains the output of the first laser light as it iswithout changing the output of the first laser light [S1708].

However, if it is determined that the detected moving object correspondsto a living thing based on the result of the step S1804, the lightcontrolling unit controls the output of the first laser light to bechanged [S1706]. The output change control may correspond to oneselected from the group consisting of temporary output off, output powerchange, and output angle change.

In this case, the light controlling unit can calculate an object data[S1806]. The light controlling unit can determine whether the detectedliving moving object approaches to an emitting path of the first laserlight based on the calculated object data [S1808].

If it is determined that the detected living moving object is far fromthe emitting path of the first laser light based on the result of thestep S1808, the light controlling unit maintains the previous output asit is [S1708].

However, if it is determined that the detected living moving object isapproaching to the emitting path of the first laser light based on theresult of the step S1808, the light controlling unit controls the outputof the first laser light to be changed [S1706].

If the object is not detected anymore via the reflected laser lightreceived through the light receiving unit, the light controlling unitrestores the output of the first laser light to the original output.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, among the separated laserlights, one or more objects can be detected by the laser light fordetecting an object in the wireless power transmission process. In thefollowing, for clarity, an example of detecting one object only isexplained, by which the present invention may be non-limited. In thiscase, for example, the detected object may correspond to a fixed objector a moving object. The light controlling unit can determine whether thedetected object corresponds to the fixed object or the moving object viaa laser light received via the light receiving unit (e.g., photodiode).

Basically, when a laser light is received via the light receiving unit,the light controlling unit can recognize or identify the existence of anobject. And, the light controlling unit determines whether therecognized object corresponds to a fixed object or a moving object viathe laser light received via the light receiving unit.

For example, if it is determined that an interval of a laser light isconstant based on the interval of the laser light received via the lightreceiving unit, the light controlling unit can determine that a detectedobject corresponds to a fixed object.

On the contrary, if the interval of the received laser light isshortened or is continuously changing, the light controlling unit candetermine that a detected object corresponds to a moving object.

When the detected object corresponds to a fixed object, the lightcontrolling unit can determine whether or not a position of the fixedobject is overlapped with an emitting path of the first laser light. Forexample, whether or not a position of the fixed object is overlappedwith an emitting path of the first laser light can be determined via areference (e.g., reference number, etc.) of an optical fiber for thesecond laser light which is emitted to detect an object, the firstemitting angle, and the like. If the fixed object is not overlapped withthe emitting path of the first laser light, the light controlling unitignores the object and maintains the power of the first laser light asit is. On the other hand, if it is determined that the fixed object iscompletely or partly overlapped with the emitting path of the firstlaser light, the light controlling unit can control the output of thefirst laser light to be turned off or control the emitting angle of thefirst laser light to be changed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that a detected objectcorresponds to a moving object and the object corresponds to a livingthing, the light controlling unit can determine speed, direction, andthe like of the living moving object with reference to an interval ofthe reflected laser light. For example, the speed may correspond toinformation indicating the timing at which the living moving object andthe emitting path of the first laser light are overlapped, overlap time,and the like. Meanwhile, the direction may correspond to informationindicating whether the object is approaching to the emitting path of thefirst laser light or not.

If it is determined that the detected living moving object isapproaching to the emitting path of the first laser light, the lightcontrolling unit can control the output of the first laser light fromthe timing which is calculated based on the interval of the reflectedlaser light in consideration of the speed of the object. On thecontrary, if it is determined that the detected living moving object isgetting far from the emitting path of the first laser light, the lightcontrolling unit maintains the output of the first laser light as it is.In this case, if the output of the first laser light is previouslyturned off or power is controlled, the light controlling unit can turnon the output of the first laser light or restore the controlled powerto the original power.

Meanwhile, the light controlling unit can control the output of thefirst laser light only when the detected object corresponds to either amoving object or a living moving object.

If it is determined that a moving path of the moving object isoverlapped with an output path of the first laser light, the lightcontrolling unit may calculate and use overlap data on a size,thickness, and a moving direction of the moving object.

For example, as mentioned in the foregoing description, if it is assumedthat an output end of a light outputting unit, in particular, an outputend structure of the second light outputting unit, corresponds to thesecond laser light using a region (i.e., a region not harmful for ahuman body) other than FWHM region on a distribution diagram of a laserlight for performing wireless charging, an object can be detected usingthe region. In particular, when the second laser light is emitted to theexternal via the second light outputting unit, how the second laserlight covers the neighboring regions and how much the second laser lightcovers the neighboring regions are important on the basis of a lightpath of the first laser light. Although the second laser light is usedfor detecting an object in a manner of being emitted with a pathdifferent from a path of the first laser light, if the second laserlight covers a specific region (e.g., a region of a very small range)only on the basis of a light path of the first laser light, it may failto achieve the purpose of the second laser light. Hence, in order tocover a prescribed range or a prescribed region on the basis of thelight path of the first laser light, a light path of the second laserlight can be configured in advance or can be configured to be randomlychanged at the time of installation. Although an output end structure ofthe second light outputting unit is not depicted in the presentspecification, the output end structure of the second light outputtingunit can be configured via a random structure. Or, as described in FIG.16, it may use a random medium.

Meanwhile, in relation to the present invention, changing an emittingangle of the second laser light, detecting an object, controlling aconfiguration according to object detection, and changing thecontrolling of the configuration can be displayed in a form of an image,audio, and the like via a display unit (or speaker) mounted on awireless power transmission or a controller for operating the wirelesspower transmission device and can be controlled by operating a button onthe wireless power transmission device or the controller.

Meanwhile, the light outputting unit illustrated in FIG. 12(a) can beimplemented by various structures or shapes other than the structureshown in the drawing. For example, referring to FIG. 12(a) although thefirst light outputting unit is structurally separated from the secondlight outputting unit, the first light outputting unit and the secondlight outputting unit can be formed by a single structure without beingseparated. To this end, it may use multiple optical fibers for emittinglaser light. In this case, a part of the multiple optical fibers is usedfor detecting an object and another part of the multiple optical fiberscan be used for outputting a laser light. By doing so, it may have thesame or similar effect. Besides, referring to FIG. 12(a), although anoutput end of the second light outputting unit is depicted and explainedas an opening type, the output end of the second light outputting unitmay have various structures or shapes. For example, it may be able tocontrol the output end of the second light outputting unit to emit alaser light for detecting an object in accordance with the control ofthe light controlling unit by implementing the output end of the secondlight outputting unit with a member capable of being opened and closed.In this case, the member may adopt a material capable of reflecting orabsorbing a laser light. And, it may be able to include a member capableof changing an emitting angle of a laser light emitted by an opticalfiber in or in the vicinity of at least one optical fiber among one ormore optical fibers that construct the second light outputting unit.Besides, it may be able to configure a structure or a shape of theoutput end of the second light outputting unit to have a closedstructure and a hole(s) capable of emitting a laser light. In this case,it is able to control an emitting angle of the laser light emitted viathe hole(s) to be changed by changing a size, a height, and the like ofthe hole(s). Explanation on the structure or the shape of the output endcan also be applied to an input end. Or, the output end and the inputend can be formed together.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, it isable to provide a wireless power transmission device and a methodtherefor. In this case, the wireless power transmission device cantransfer wireless power using a separated laser. It is able to performwireless charging via wireless power transmission and secure or increaseuse safety by detecting an object. Moreover, in order to obtain theaforementioned advantages, it is able to provide various types ofwireless power transmission device structure.

According to each of the embodiments of the present invention and acombination thereof, it is able to provide a wireless power transmissiondevice and a method therefor, it is able to use a laser corresponding toone of power transfer media by dividing the laser, and it is able toperform wireless charging via wireless power transfer and secure orincrease use safety by detecting an object. According to at least oneembodiment of the present invention, it is able to propose a structureof a wireless power transmission device capable of performing wirelesspower transmission and detecting an object using a separated laser.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention maybe carried out in other specific ways than those set forth hereinwithout departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of thepresent invention.

The above embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should bedetermined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not bythe above description, and all changes coming within the meaning andequivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embracedtherein.

With reference to FIGS. 19 to 32, a wireless power transmission deviceand a control method therefor will be described below in detail.However, those skilled in the art may supplement the interpretation ofFIGS. 19 to 32 or modify embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 32 withreference to FIGS. 1 to 18.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a wirelesspower transmission device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 19, a wireless power transmission device 800 includesa laser light source 802, a controller 806, a light receiving unit 808,a sensing unit 810, a light output controlling unit 812, a lightoutputting unit 820, a light separation unit 830, and a communicationunit 840.

The laser light source 802 generates a first laser light 100 forwireless charging, and a guide beam 200 for sensing at least one of anobject and one or more receivers.

An object refers to an item between the wireless power transmissiondevice and a receiver. Specifically, the object may be an obstacle towireless power transmission. For example, the object may be a person ora thing.

The laser light source 802 generates the first laser light 100 and theguide beam 200 at the same time.

According to another embodiment, the laser light source 802 generates alaser light. The laser light may be split into the first laser light 100and the guide beam 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the laser light may be divided into i) an FWHMregion and ii) a non-FWHM region. Light of the FWHM region is used forwireless charging, and light of the non-FWHM region is used to sense anobject.

The guide beam 200 corresponds to a second laser light. The guide beam200 senses at least one of an object and one or more receivers.

The guide beam 200 may be emitted over a larger area than the firstlaser light 100. Because the guide beam 200 functions to detect areceiver, the guide beam 200 is irradiated over a large area. When theguide beam 200 is reflected from a receiver, the light receiving unit808 receives the reflected light, and the sensing unit 810 senses thereflected light.

The light receiving unit 808 receives the guide beam 200 reflected froman external object. The light receiving unit 808 detects an opticalsignal, converts the light to an electrical signal by photoelectricconversion, and thus restores an original signal.

The sensing unit 810 senses light. The sensing unit 810 senses lightreceived through the light receiving unit 808. The sensing unit 810 maybe incorporated with the light receiving unit 808. In this case, thesensing unit 810 senses the guide beam 200 reflected from the externalobject.

The light outputting unit 820 outputs the first laser light 100 and theguide beam 200. The light outputting unit 820 includes a first lightoutputting unit 822 and a second light outputting unit 824.

For example, the first light outputting unit 822 outputs the first laserlight 100, and the second light outputting unit 824 outputs the guidebeam 200.

The light separation unit 830 splits a light into a plurality of lights.The light separation unit 830 includes at least one of an optical fiber(not shown), a prism 832, a galvanometer scanner 833, or a lens 834,which will be described later with reference to FIG. 30.

The communication unit 840 transmits and receives data to and from anexternal device. For example, the communication unit 840 may transmitand receive data to and from the external device by Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, orZigbee communication.

The controller 806 controls output of the first laser light 100 based onthe guide beam 200 received at the light receiving unit 808.

The controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit theguide beam 200 to a target region, controls the sensing unit 810 tosense light reflected from a receiver 900 in the target region,determine the position of the receiver 900 based on the reflected light,and controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit the first laser light100 to the determined position of the receiver 900. This operation willbe described later in detail with reference to FIG. 23.

FIG. 20 is a first flowchart illustrating a method of controlling awireless power transmission device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. This method is performed by the controller 806.

Referring to FIG. 20, the controller 806 controls the light outputtingunit 820 to emit a guide beam to a target region (S2010).

The controller 806 controls the sensing unit 810 to sense lightreflected from the receiver 900 (S2020).

The controller 806 determines the position of the receiver 900 based onthe reflected light (S2030).

The controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit afirst laser light to the determined position of the receiver 900(S2040).

FIG. 21 is a second flowchart illustrating a method of controlling awireless power transmission device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. This method is performed by the controller 806.

Referring to FIG. 21, a laser light is split into a guide beam and afirst laser light (S2110). Specifically, the light separation unit 830splits the laser light into the first laser light 100 and the guide beam200.

The origin of the guide beam is adjusted (S2120). Specifically, thecontroller 806 may adjust the origin of the guide beam 200 to the centerof the light outputting unit 820. This operation will be described laterin detail with reference to FIG. 25.

The controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit theguide beam 200 to a target region (S2130).

The controller 806 controls the sensing unit 810 to sense lightreflected from the receiver 900 (S2140).

The controller 806 determines the position of the receiver 900 based onthe reflected light (S2150).

Once the controller 806 determines the position of the receiver 900(S2160), the controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 toemit the first laser light to the determined position of the receiver900 (S2170).

When the controller 806 fails to determine the position of the receiver900 (S2160), the controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820to emit the guide beam again to the target region (S2130).

FIG. 22 is a third flowchart illustrating a method of controlling awireless power transmission device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. This method is performed by the controller 806.

Referring to FIG. 22, a laser light is split into a guide beam and afirst laser light (S2210). Specifically, the light separation unit 830splits the laser light into the first laser light 100 and the guide beam200.

The controller 806 determines the positions of receivers. Specifically,the controller 806 determines the positions of the receivers by areceiver positioning algorithm. Specifically, the receiver positioningalgorithm refers to the algorithm of FIG. 21.

Once the controller 806 determines the positions of the receivers(S2230), the controller 806 counts the number of the receivers (S2240).This operation will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.25.

When the controller 806 fails to determine the positions of thereceivers (S2230), the controller 806 controls the light outputting unit820 to emit the guide beam again to a target region (S2210).

The controller 806 controls the light separation unit 830 to split thefirst laser light into as many lights as the number of the receivers(S2250).

The controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit thesplit individual first laser lights to the determined positions of theindividual receivers 900 (S2260).

FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of detecting areceiver by a guide beam in a wireless power transmission deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 23, the controller 806 controls the light outputtingunit 820 to emit the guide beam 200 to a target region 1000. The targetregion 1000 includes an area in which the receiver 900 is located.

Because the wireless power transmission device 800 has difficulty inpositioning the receiver 900 from the beginning, the wireless powertransmission device 800 emits the guide beam 200 over a wide area to thetarget region 1000 in which the receiver 900 is expected to be located.

When the guide beam 200 is reflected from the receiver 900, thecontroller 806 controls the sensing unit 810 to sense light 300reflected from the receiver 900.

The controller 806 determines the position of the receiver 900 based onthe reflected light 300.

The controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit thefirst laser light 100 to the determined receiver 900.

According to the present disclosure, the position of a receiver may beaccurately determined based on reflected light. Therefore, the firstlaser light 100 transferring wireless power may be emitted to theaccurate position of the receiver.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating detection of a receiver by a guidebeam according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 24, the principle of the present disclosure will bedescribed. For wireless power transmission through light, a laser havinga high light energy density is mainly used. This is conceptuallyequivalent to collection of hundreds of light bulbs. Before wirelesspower transmission, it is important for the wireless power transmissiondevice 800 to accurately position the receiver 900.

For this purpose, the light outputting unit 820 of the wireless powertransmission device 800 transmits the guide beam 200 to the targetregion 1000 in which the receiver 900 is located. The receiver 900reflects energy at a predetermined ratio in a specific wavelength oflight, and the wireless power transmission device 800 receives thereflected light 300.

The reflected light 300 includes information about the presence orabsence of a receiver and the position of the receiver.

The sensing unit 810 senses the reflected light 300. The controller 806determines the position of the receiver 900 based on the informationabout the position of the receiver 900 included in the received light300.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating positioning of a receiver according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 25 includes FIGS. 25(a)and 25(b).

FIG. 25(a) is a diagram illustrating determination of the position of areceiver in the case of a single receiver. FIG. 25(b) is a diagramillustrating determination of the positions of individual receivers inthe case of a plurality of receivers.

Referring to FIG. 25(a), the x axis represents a horizontal position,and the y axis represents a vertical position. The origin may be thecenter of the light outputting unit 820. The controller 806 adjusts theorigin of the guide beam 200 to the center of the light outputting unit820.

The controller 806 determines the position of the receiver based on thereflected light in three-dimensional (3D) coordinates with the center ofthe light outputting unit 820 as the origin. A z-axis distance may becalculated based on the speed of light, a time taken for the guide beam200 output from the light outputting unit 820 to reach the receiver 900,and a time taken for the light reflected from the receiver 900 to reachthe sensing unit 810.

For example, in the presence of a single receiver 900, the sensing unit810 senses reflected light corresponding to the single receiver 900. Thedetected position of the receiver 900, (x, y, z)=(3, 4, −10) in meters.

Referring to FIG. 25(b), receivers 900 include a first receiver 901, asecond receiver 902, a third receiver 903, and a fourth receiver 904.

The controller 806 counts power levels corresponding to a specificwavelength, received from individual receivers and thus counts thenumber of the receivers.

For example, when the light source emits light at 1,064 nm, the receiver900 reflects 5% of the light at 1,064 nm. That is, only when 5% of thelight is reflected, this means that a receiver 900 exists in a targetregion. When the reflectance of the reflected light is not 5%, it isdetermined that no receiver 900 exists in the target region.

This will be described in terms of a power unit. For example, when thewireless power transmission device 800 emits 100W to the receiver 900,the wireless power transmission device 800 may receive 5W of power fromthe receiver 900.

That is, only when 5W of power is received, this means that a receiver900 exists in a target region. When the receiver power is not 5W, thismeans that no receiver 900 exists in the target region.

Now, a description will be given of a case of four receivers in terms ofa power unit.

For example, when the wireless power transmission device 800 emits 100Wof a guide beam to a target region and receives 5W of power four times,the number of receivers 900 is 4.

In the presence of four receivers, the sensing unit 810 sensesindividual reflected lights from the four receivers.

The detected position of the first receiver 901, (x, y, z)=(3, 4, −10)in meters. The detected position of the second receiver 902, (x, y,z)=(6, −5, −10). The detected position of the third receiver 903, (x, y,z)=(−5, −4, −10). The detected position of the fourth receiver 904, (x,y, z)=(−3, 4, −10).

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating emission of a first laser light to areceiver in a wireless power transmission device. FIG. 26 includes FIGS.26(a) and 26(b).

FIG. 26(a) is a diagram illustrating emission of a first laser light toa receiver in the case of a single receiver. FIG. 26(b) is a diagramillustrating emission of a first laser light to individual receivers inthe case of a plurality of receivers.

Referring to FIG. 26(a), the x axis represents a horizontal position,and the y axis represents a vertical position. The origin may be thecenter of the light outputting unit 820. Determination of the positionof a receiver has been described before with reference to FIG. 25 andthus will not be described herein.

In the case of a single receiver, the wireless power transmission device800 emits the first laser light 100 to the receiver 900.

Referring to FIG. 26(b), the receivers 900 include the first receiver901, the second receiver 902, the third receiver 903, and the fourthreceiver 904.

The controller 806 counts the number of the receivers, and controls thelight separation unit 830 to split the first laser light into as many asthe number of the receivers. For convenience, the first laser light isreferred to as the laser light.

In the presence of four receivers, the laser light is split into fourlights. Specifically, the laser light is split into a first laser light101, a second laser light 102, a third laser light 103, and a fourthlaser light 104.

Now, a description will be given of a laser light split criterion.

First, when the first to fourth receivers 901 to 904 are identical, thelight separation unit 830 may split the laser light equally.

A case in which individual receivers have different amounts of powerwill be described below.

The individual first to fourth receivers 901 to 904 may have differentamounts of power, which will be described later in detail with referenceto FIG. 29.

The wireless power transmission device 800 emits the first laser light101 to the first receiver 901. The wireless power transmission device800 emits the second laser light 102 to the second receiver 902. Thewireless power transmission device 800 emits the third laser light 102to the third receiver 903. The wireless power transmission device 800emits the fourth laser light 104 to the fourth receiver 904.

According to the present disclosure, in the presence of a plurality ofreceivers, a laser light is split into as many as the number of thereceivers and the split laser lights are emitted to the individualreceivers. Accordingly, power may be transmitted individually to theplurality of receivers, thereby increasing user convenience.

FIG. 27 is a conceptual diagram illustrating positioning of a receiver.FIG. 27 includes FIGS. 27(a) and 27(b).

FIG. 27(a) is a diagram illustrating reflectances in specificwavelengths of light. FIG. 27(b) is a diagram illustrating lightreflected from a coating layer.

Referring to FIG. 27(a), the x axis represents a wavelength, and the yaxis represents reflectance. The reflectance ranges from 0 to 1. Forincident light, 0 indicates 0% reflection, 0.5 indicates 50% reflection,and 1 indicates 100% reflection.

Referring to FIG. 27(b), the guide beam 200 is incident on the surfaceof the receiver 900. The surface of the receiver 900 includes an ARC 910and silicon 920. ARC represents anti-reflection coating. The guide beam200 is reflected from the surface of the receiver 900, and the reflectedlight is denoted by reference numeral 300. The reflected light 300 isemitted to the wireless power transmission device 800.

Herein, n0 represents the refractive index of air, n1 represents therefractive index of the ARC, and n2 represents the refractive index ofthe silicon. d1 represents the thickness of the ARC.

The concept of positioning a receiver will be described below.

For example, a receiver may be a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaiccell is a kind of photoelectric element. A photoelectric element is anelement that converts light to electricity.

Referring to FIG. 27(b), the photovoltaic cell includes silicon and acoating layer that coats the silicon. The coating layer includes SiO₂,TiO₂, and an ARC. Silicon, SiO₂, TiO₂, and an ARC are mostly composed ofinorganic materials, and their reflectances with respect to wavelengthsof light are fixed as unique properties of the materials.

A case in which the coating layer is composed of one material will bedescribed below.

For example, when the photovoltaic cell is composed of silicon, thesilicon reflects 10% of light at 1,000 nm and almost 0% of light at 600nm.

Therefore, the controller 806 may determine the presence or absence of areceiver and the position of the receiver based on a reflectance withrespect to a specific wavelength.

For example, when the light source emits light at 1,064 nm, a receiverreflects 5% of the light at 1,064 nm. That is, only when 5% of the lightis reflected, it is determined that a receiver exists in a targetregion. When the reflectance of reflected light is not 5%, it isdetermined that there is no receiver in the target region.

This operation will be described in terms of a power unit. For example,when the wireless power transmission device 800 emits 100W to thereceiver 900, the wireless power transmission device 800 may receiveabout 5W of power from the receiver 900.

When determining that the receiver 900 exists in the target region, thecontroller 806 may obtain the coordinates of the receiver 900. Thisoperation has been described before with reference to FIG. 25.

A case in which the coating layer is composed of two materials will bedescribed below.

For example, when the photovoltaic cell corresponding to the receiver iscomposed of a mixture of silicon and an ARC, the silicon reflects 10% oflight at 1,000 nm and almost 0% of light at 600 nm. The ARC reflects 5%of the light at 1,000 nm and almost 0% of the light at 600 nm.

In this case, the reflectance is determined to be the average of 10% and5%, 7.5%. Therefore, when 7.5% of the light at 1,000 nm is reflected, itis determined that a photovoltaic cell exists in a target region. Whenthe reflectance of the light is not 7.5%, it is determined that aphotovoltaic cell does not exist in the target region.

Therefore, the controller 806 may determine the presence or absence of areceiver and the position of the receiver based on a reflectance withrespect to a specific wavelength.

According to the present disclosure, the controller 806 may determinethe presence or absence or a receiver and the position of the receiverin a target region based on a reflectance of a material contained in thereceiver 900 with respect to a specific wavelength of light.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating error correction between a lightoutputting unit and a sensing unit according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 28, the light outputting unit 820 emits the guide beam200 to the receiver 900, and the guide beam 200 is reflected from thesurface of the receiver 900. The sensing unit 810 senses the reflectedlight 300. In this case, a first angle 40 is formed between the guidebeam 200 and the reflected light 300.

When the wireless power transmission device 800 is actually fabricated,the light outputting unit 820 and the sensing unit 810 are located atthe same position in an ideal case. However, the sensing unit 810 isspaced from the light outputting unit 820 by a specific distance in realimplementation. Therefore, an error corresponding to the distance islikely to occur.

The controller 806 calculates an error based on the first angle 40, andadjusts the distance between the light outputting unit 820 and thereceiver 900 and the position of the receiver 900 with respect to thecenter of the light outputting unit 820. The position adjustment is wellknown in the art and thus will not be described in detail herein.

According to the present disclosure, the distance between the lightoutputting unit 820 and the receiver 900 and the position of thereceiver 900 may be measured with higher precision based on the firstangle 40 between the guide beam 200 and the reflected light 300.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating transmission of different power toindividual receivers according to the residual power levels of thereceivers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 29, the plurality of receivers include the firstreceiver 901, the second receiver 902, the third receiver 903, and thefourth receiver 904.

The controller 806 receives information about the current availablepower levels of the first receiver 901, the second receiver 902, thethird receiver 903, and the fourth receiver 904, individually from thefirst receiver 901, the second receiver 902, the third receiver 903, andthe fourth receiver 904 through the communication unit 840.

The first receiver 901 has 10% available power, the second receiver 902has 40% available power, the third receiver 903 has 70% available power,and the fourth receiver 904 has 100% available power.

An embodiment of emitting light to individual receivers differentlyaccording to their residual power levels will be described below.

The controller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 to emit aplurality of split first laser lights to the individual receiversaccording to the residual power levels of the receivers.

The controller 806 controls emission of a laser light inverselyproportional to the current available power level of an individualreceiver.

For example, since the available power level of the first receiver 901is 10%, the controller 806 emits 60% of the first laser light to thefirst receiver 901.

Since the available power level of the second receiver 902 is 40%, thecontroller 806 emits 30% of the first laser light to the second receiver902.

Since the available power level of the third receiver 903 is 70%, thecontroller 806 emits 10% of the first laser light to the third receiver903.

Since the available power level of the fourth receiver 904 is 100%, thecontroller 806 emits 0% of the first laser light to the fourth receiver904. That is, when a specific receiver has 100% available power, thecontroller 806 controls the light outputting unit 820 not to emit thelaser light to the receiver.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating the light separation unit 830according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 30 includesFIGS. 30(a) and 30(b).

FIG. 30(a) is a diagram illustrating splitting of laser light into firstlaser light and a guide beam in the light separation unit 830. FIG.30(b) is a diagram illustrating a real model of the light separationunit 830.

Referring to FIG. 30(a), the light separation unit 830 splits the laserlight 10 received from the laser light source into the first laser light100 and the guide beam 200.

Referring to FIG. 30(b), the light separation unit 830 splits the laserlight 10 received from the laser light source into the first laser light100 and the guide beam 200.

That is, the light separation unit 830 has a structure in which forinput of one light, a plurality of lights are output.

Now, a detailed configuration of the light separation unit 830 will bedescribed.

The light separation unit 830 includes at least one of an optical fiber(not shown), a prism 832, a galvanometer scanner 833, or lenses 834.These components will be described later in detail.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a prism and a galvanometer scanneraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 31 includesFIGS. 31(a) and 31(b).

FIG. 31(a) is a diagram illustrating the principle of the prism, andFIG. 31(b) is a diagram illustrating the principle of the galvanometerscanner.

Referring to FIG. 31(a), the prism 832 is an optical part that splits alight including a plurality of wavelengths into a light in each of thewavelengths. For example, when the white light 100 passes through theprism 832, the white light 100 is separated into violet light 110 to redlight 120. The red light 120 is light that is refracted least, when thewhite light 100 passes through the prism 832. The violet light 110 islight that is refracted most, when the white light 100 passes throughthe prism 832.

Referring to FIG. 31(b), the galvanometer scanner 833 includes a firstmicro actuator 3110, a second micro actuator 3120, a first mirror 3112,and a second mirror 3122.

A galvanometer scanner is an optical part with a micro actuator attachedto a mirror, which is used to steer input light in a specific direction.

For example, the first micro actuator 3110 is coupled to the firstmirror 3112, and the first mirror 3112 rotates in the same direction asthe first micro actuator 3110. The second micro actuator 3120 is coupledto the second mirror 3122, and the second mirror 3122 rotates in thesame direction as the second micro actuator 3120.

The input light 100 is primarily reflected from the first mirror 3112and secondarily reflected from the second mirror 3122, thus traveling ina user-set specific direction.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating lenses according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 32, lenses 834 include at least one of a first lens834-1, a second lens 834-2, a third lens 834-3, a fourth lens 834-4, afifth lens 834-5, or a sixth lens 834-6.

The lenses 834 are used to change the shape of a light emitted from thelight source such that the light is gathered, spread, or parallel.

The first lens 834-1 is a biconvex lens.

The second lens 834-2 is a plano-convex lens.

The third lens 834-3 is a positive meniscus lens.

The fourth lens 834-4 is a negative meniscus lens.

The fifth lens 834-5 is a plano-concave lens.

The sixth lens 834-6 is a biconcave lens.

When there are a plurality of receivers, the controller 806 generates aguide beam corresponding to the shapes of the individual receivers in acombination of at least one of the first to sixth lenses 834-1 to 834-6.

According to the present disclosure, when there is a single receiver, alaser light may be split into a guide beam and a power transmissionlight by means of the lenses, the galvanometer scanners, the prism, andthe optical fiber.

When there are a plurality of receivers, the power separation unit 830splits a laser light into as many as the number of the receivers and aguide beam corresponding to the shapes of the receivers by means of thelenses.

Further, power is transmitted to the plurality of receivers by the prismand the galvanometer scanner. An object may be sensed by the guide beam.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a guide beam isemitted to a target region in which a receiver is located. The receiverreflects energy at a specific ratio with respect to a specificwavelength of light. The wireless power transmission device receives thereflected light and thus may determine the presence or absence of thereceiver and the position of the receiver with higher precision, therebyincreasing user convenience.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, when thereare a plurality of receivers, a laser light is split into as many as thenumber of the receiver and the split laser lights are emitted to theindividual receivers. Therefore, power may be transmitted to theplurality of individual receivers, thereby increasing user convenience.

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described indetail above to allow those skilled in the art to implement and practicethe present disclosure. Although the preferred embodiments of thepresent disclosure have been described above, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made inthe present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of thedisclosure. Therefore, the above embodiments should be construed in allaspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosureshould be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents,and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of theappended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Various forms for implementing the present invention have been describedin the best mode for implementing the present invention.

The present invention relates to a wireless power transmission deviceand a method therefor and is applicable to various devices including awearable device and the like. In particular, the present invention isindustrially usable.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless power transmission device comprising:a laser light source configured to generate a first laser light forwireless charging and a guide beam for sensing at least one of an objectand one or more receivers; a light outputting unit configured to outputthe first laser light and the guide beam; a light receiving unitconfigured to receive the guide beam; and a controller configured tocontrol output of the first laser light through the guide beam receivedat the light receiving unit.
 2. The wireless power transmission deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a sensing unit configured tosense a light, wherein the controller is configured to: control thelight outputting unit to emit the guide beam to a target region; controlthe sensing unit to sense a light reflected from a receiver in thetarget region; determine the position of the receiver based on thereflected light; and control the light outputting unit to emit the firstlaser light to the determined position of the receiver.
 3. The wirelesspower transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the controlleris configured to determine the position of the receiver based on areflectance corresponding to a material contained in the receiver withrespect to a specific wavelength of the light.
 4. The wireless powertransmission device according to claim 2, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine the position of the receiver inthree-dimensional coordinates with a center of the light outputting unitas an origin, based on the reflected light.
 5. The wireless powertransmission device according to claim 2, wherein the controller isconfigured to count the number of receivers based on the reflectedlight.
 6. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 5,further comprising a light separation unit, wherein when a plurality ofreceivers are counted, the controller is configured to control the lightseparation unit to split the first laser light into as many first laserlights as the plurality of receivers.
 7. The wireless power transmissiondevice according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured tocontrol the light outputting unit to emit the plurality of split firstlaser lights to the individual receivers.
 8. The wireless powertransmission device according to claim 7, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the light outputting unit to emit the plurality ofsplit first laser lights differently to the individual receiversaccording to residual power amounts of the receivers.
 9. The wirelesspower transmission device according to claim 6, wherein the lightseparation unit includes at least one of an optical fiber, a prism, agalvanometer scanner, and a lens.
 10. The wireless power transmissiondevice according to claim 2, wherein when the controller fails todetermine the position of the receiver, the controller is configured tocontrol the light emitting unit to emit the guide beam again to thetarget region.
 11. The wireless power transmission device according toclaim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether anobject has been detected according to the guide beam received at thelight receiving unit.
 12. The wireless power transmission deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a member configured to changean emission angle of at least one of the first laser light and the guidebeam emitted from at least one of a first light outputting unit and asecond light outputting unit.
 13. The wireless power transmission deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determinewhether at least one object sensed according to a second laser lightreceived through the light receiving unit is a fixed object or a movingobject.
 14. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1,wherein when the sensed object is a moving object, the controller isconfigured to calculate object data, and wherein the object dataincludes data on a speed and a direction of the moving object.
 15. Thewireless power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein whenthe controller determines that the sensed moving object is approachingin an emission path of the first laser light based on the object data,the controller is configured to control the light outputting unit tochange output of the first laser light.
 16. The wireless powertransmission device according to claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the light outputting unit to change output of thefirst laser light through at least one of change/recovery of an emissionangle, output power on/off, or change/recovery of output power to belowa threshold, for the emitted first laser light.
 17. A method ofcontrolling a wireless power transmission device, the method comprising:controlling a light outputting unit to emit a guide beam to a targetregion; controlling a sensing unit to sense a light reflected from areceiver in the target region; determining the position of the receiverbased on the reflected light; and controlling the light outputting unitto emit a first laser light to the determined position of the receiver.18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining theposition of the receiver based on a reflectance corresponding to amaterial contained in the receiver with respect to a specific wavelengthof the light.
 19. The method according to claim 17, further comprisingcounting the number of receivers based on the reflected light.
 20. Themethod according to claim 19, further comprising, when a plurality ofreceivers are counted, controlling a light separation unit to split thefirst laser light into as many first laser lights as the plurality ofreceivers.